Reno-Sparks weighed in at No. 5 in this year's Inc. magazine list of the "hottest" mid-sized markets for doing business.
While that's down from No. 1 a year ago, the magazine added 120 regions to the overall competition this year and officials Wednesday said Reno-Sparks has lost none of its luster.
"Reno-Sparks showed job growth in high-wage sectors like professional business services," said Joel Kotkin, author of the article in the May issue of Inc. magazine. "I tell people that the difference in ranking No. 1 and No. 25 can be as small as 1,000 jobs. Overall, (Reno-Sparks) is a strong economy and a great place for business."
This year, the magazine assessed Federal Bureau of labor Statistics in a total of 393 regions nationwide in small, medium and large categories.
Among mid-sized markets with an employment base of 150,000 to 450,000, Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla., was tops.
Yuma, Ariz., was No. 1 among small cities and greater Las Vegas tops among big cities.
In its article, Inc. magazine lauded the Truckee Meadows area for its increase in services, manufacturing and construction jobs, and a 42 percent increase in employment since 2002.
The article, which ranked Reno-Sparks 25th best among all markets, cited the influx of San Francisco Bay Area businesses to Nevada as a key to the region's economic prosperity.
"We're still a hot spot for California manufacturers and technology companies looking to escape the high cost of doing business," said Chuck Alvey, CEO of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada.
City officials welcomed the national attention.
"The secret is out that the Reno-Sparks area is a great place to do business," said Sparks Mayor Geno Martini.